Apparatus for manufacturing electron tubes



June 9, 1964 N. HUMEN 3,136,028

APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING ELECTRON TUBES Fi led April 17, 1961 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 INV EN TOR. A ICHOZ 45 HUME/V Whiz J ATrafA/B J m 1954 N. HUMEN 3,136,028

APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING ELECTRON TUBES Filed April 17, 1961 Sheets-Sheet 2 Mel/0.44s fi l/MEN June 9, 1 N. HUMEN" APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING ELECTRON TUBES '7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 17, 1961 INVENTOR. Mam/15 HUME/v BY June 9, 1964 N. HUMEN 3,136,023

APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING ELECTRON TUBES Filed April 17; 1961 '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Arran zr June 9, 1964 N. HUMEN 3,136,028

APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING ELECTRON TUBES Filed April 1'7, 1961 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 A; 1J2 1.9% 3 /90 f5 {66 -ELL. 190 INVENTOR.

NICHOZ 4s Hu/mw June 9, 1964 HUMEN 3,136,028

APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING ELECTRON TUBES Filed April 17, 1961 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR. Ma /a1 45 fll/MEA/ June 9, 1964 N. HUMEN 3,136,023

APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING ELECTRON TUBES Filed April 17, 1961 4 7 Sheets-Sheet '7 IN VEN TOR. Mama 4: //(/MN TTOKIVE) United States Patent 3,135,023 APPARATUS FUR MANUFAQITURING ELECTRGN TUBES Nicholas Human, Bayonne, NJ, assignor to Radio Corporation of America, a corporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 17, 196i, Ser. No. 103,391 17 Claims. (til. 2?--25.19)

The invention disclosed and claimed herein pertains generally to the manufacture of electron tubes. The invention is particularly directed to apparatus for assembling a set of individual tube parts to form an electrode cage assembly which is subsequently incorporated into a tube.

Unitary electrode cages for electron tubes usually comprise a plurality of electrodes (e.g., a cathode, a grid, and an anode) which are mounted in predetermined spaced relationship between a pair of insulating spacer plates. The cage is usually contained within a separate vacuumtight envelope. The spacer plates may, for example, comprise mica sheets, each of which has a predetermined array of apertures therein into which end portions of the electrodes are received.

Such electrode cages sometimes comprise electrodes which are so very small and delicate that they are best manually handled, for example, with tweezers. Manual fabrication of such cages is slow and tedious and results in operator fatigue which gives rise to a high rate of rejects (defective cages). On the other hand, automatic cage assembly machines are generally very expensive, relatively large, and not adaptable to the making of different type cage structures without relatively extensive and semi-permanent modifications being made therein when a different type cage is to be assembled on the machine. Such automatic cage assembly machines are therefore primarily suited only for high run production, that is, making many thousands of cages for the same tube type before changing over to the making of another type.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a novel and improved compact and inexpensive cage assembly machine which is suited for relatively low production runs.

It is another object of this invention to provide a new and improved cage assembly machine which can be quickly, easily, and inexpensively modified to permit assembly of different tube types having dilferent cage structures.

Further objects of this invention are the provision of a cage assembly machine: in which the moving parts mechanism thereof is simple and rugged and thus not subjected to frequent breakdown, which is simple to operate, which provides accurate assembly of tube parts, and which minimizes the factor of operator fatigue on product quality thus resulting in a relatively low percentage of cage rejects.

Briefly, according to the invention, a plurality of jigs, each adapted to receive a different electrode cage part, are releasably and slidably secured to a continuously moving carrier means. A feature of the invention is the carrier means which may, for example, comprise a turret to the periphery of which the jigs are magnetically secured so as to move the jigs along a closed loop path. By virtue of the magnetic attachment of the jigs to the carrier means, the jigs are releasable from and slidable relative to the carrier means when subjected to a suitable force.

Stop members are selectively actuated into the path of the jigs to successively stop only the jigs, first at a loading station and then at acage assembly station, continued movement of the carrier means being permitted. At the loading station a selected cage part is placed on each jig. At the cage assembly station the loaded jigs are individ ually and successively removed from the carrier means 3,135,028 Patented June 9, 1964 by transfer mechanism and moved to a cage assembly fixture which receives the parts to form the electrode cage as will be described below. To assure proper assembly of the mica and electrode elements, a gathering mechanism is provided to align the electrodes and the micas for assembly.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective View partly exploded of an electrode cage suitable for assembly on the apparatus of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation and partly in section of cage assembly apparatus according to the invention;

FIG. 3 is a section of reduced size of the apparatus of FIG. 2 taken along line 3-3;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are plan and elevation views, respectively, of a set of jigs for handling the parts of the electrode cage of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged bottom plan view of a portion of the apparatus of FIG. 2 as viewed in the direction of the arrow 0;

FIGS. 7 and 8 are sections taken along lines 7-7 and 8$, respectively, of FIGS. 6 and 7.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged section taken along line 99 of FIG. 2.

FIGS. 18 and 11 are elevation views of portions of the structure shown in FIG. 9 as viewed in the direction of the arrows A and B, respectively;

FIG. 12 is a plan view of the gathering tool apparatus of the cage assembly machine of FIG. 2;

FIG. 13 is a section of the gathering tool apparatus of FIG. 12 taken along line Iii-13; and 1 FIG. 14 is an enlarged plan view of the gathering tool of FIG. 12 disposed in operable relationship with the I electrode cage of FIG. 1.

The Cage Assembly In FIG. 1 there is shown a unitary electrode cage 2 which is exemplary of assemblies suitable for fabrication with the apparatus of the invention. The electrode cage 2 comprises a pair of mica insulator plates 3 between which a plurality of electrodes are mounted. The cage 2 is of the multiple unit type and comprises a triode section 4 and a pentode section 6. The triode 4 includes a cathode 7, a grid 8, and an anode 9. The pentode 6 includes a cathode 11, a control grid 12, a screen grid 13, a beam plate 14, and an anode 15. The end portions of the cathodes 7 and 11, the side rods of the grids 8, 12, and 13 and the ear portions of the beam plate 14 and the anodes 9 and 15 are received in arrayed apertures of the mica plates 3 to maintain the electrodes in their predetermined spaced relationship.

Main Parts 0 Apparatus In apparatus according to the invention as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, a continuously rotating turret 20 carries at its periphery a plurality of jigs 2128 (FIG. 3). The jigs are releasably and slidably supported on and attached to the turret by a plurality of permanent magnets 30 (FIG. 2) embedded in the turret adjacent the peripheral cylindrical surface thereof. I

With the turret 2h rotating in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 3, each jig is stopped first at a loading station 32 where a cage part is deposited thereon. The jig is then permitted to be carried by the turret to a cage assembly station 34. At the cage assembly station 34 the jig is released from the turret and moved upwardly in a manner to be described (see FIG. 2) to an assembly fixture 36. The jig is then returned to the turret 20 and carried around the turret and back to the loading station 32 tobegin another cage-making cycle.

A sufiicient number of jigs, each differently shaped to receive a different cage part, are carried by the turret 20 to handle all of the parts of the electrode cage being assembled. In the case of the cage 2 of FIG. 1, eight jigs are used. However, more or fewer jigs may be used depending upon the cage structure being fabricated. The jigs are moved successively to the loading and assembly stations 32 and 34, respectively, and the cage parts carried thereby are transferred to the assembly fixture 36 to fabricate a. complete electrode cage 2 thereat.

The Turret As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the apparatus and its operation described briefly above includes a base plate 40 on which is mounted a bearing support 42 which receives a fixed shaft 44. The shaft 44 is stepped to provide a support shoulder 46 on which the turret 29 is rotatably seated. A suitable bearing 48 is interposed between the shaft 44 and the central hub 50 of the turret 20.

The turret 20 also includes an annular web portion 52 which supports at its outer extremity a rim 54. The rim 54 includes an outer cylindrical surface 56 in which the plurality of permanent magnets 30 are embedded at circumferentially spaced locations therearound. Positioning screws 58 are provided for adjusting the radial position of the magnets 30, and set screws 60 are provided for fixing the magnets in their desired position. At the lower edge of the rim 54 a radially extending ledge or flange 62 is provided on which the jigs 2128 rest. The permanent magnets 30 are polarized (e.g., with the poles oriented at the horizontal extremities thereof as viewed in FIG. 2 and indicated by the N and S designations to establish a magnetic field with flux lines entering and emerging from the cylindrical surface 56 so as to magnetically attract, and thus releasably and slidably secure, the jigs 2128 to the cylindrical surface 56.

A drive motor 64 is mounted on the base plate 40 and coupled to a gear reduction box 66 from which a shaft 68 extends upwardly beneath the turret 20. A pinion gear 70 on the shaft 68 meshes with a ring gear 72 secured to the rim 54 of the turret 20. Energization of the motor 64 results in a continuous rotation of the turret 20. Experience has indicated that a speed of, for example, 7 rpm. f the turret 2 0 is suitable for use in fabricating the cage 2 of FIG. 1.

The Jigs FIGS. 4 and illustrate the set of jigs 21-28 used to fabricate the cage 2 shown in FIG. 1. Each of the jigs 21-28 is provided with an arcuate back surface 74 which mates with the cylindrical surface 56 of the turret 20. Each jig includes a pair of shaped contact bars 76 adjacent the back surface 74 and on each side thereof. Each contact bar 76 includes a surface 78 which is perpendicular to the surface 74 of the jig and thus lies in a radial plane of the turret when the jig is received thereon. Thus, as illustrated in FIG. 3, when the jigs congregate on the turret 20, the surfaces 78 of the contact bars of adjacent jigs are contiguous. This reduces the possibility of one jig forcing the adjacent jig free from its magnetic attachment to the turret 20.

The jig 21 is adapted to handle the upper mica plate 3 of the cage 2. An elevated surface 80 is provided for receiving the mica spacer 3 and a pair of short pins 82 serve to orient the mica thereon.

The jig 22 is adapted to handle both the triode cathode 7 and the pentode cathode 11. Two posts 84 are provided for receiving the cathodes 7 and 11.

The jig 23 is designed to handle the pentode control grid 12. This jig includes a horizontal surface 86 and a vertical surface 88 which surfaces are provided with recesses to form a pocket 90 for receiving the grid 12. The jig also includes a vertical bore which terminates centrally of the pocket 90. Disposed within the bore is a post 92 having a pointed end 94. A spring plunger 96 is located in the body of the jig 23 and presses against the post 92, which is slidable in the bore against the fric- 4 tional force of the plunger 96. The post 92 is adapted to be actuated upwardly in a manner and for a purpose hereinafter described.

The jig 24 is adapted to handle the pentode screen grid 13. The jig 24 is provided with horizontal and vertical surfaces 98 and 100 which are recessed to provide a pocket 16?. for receiving the screen grid 13. The jig 24 includes a frictionally controlled slidable post 103 which is similar to the post 92 of jig 23 and which serves a similar function as hereinafter described.

The jig 25 is adapted to handle both the pentode beam plate electrode 14 and the pentode anode 15. This jig includes a pair of fiat upwardly extending posts 104 around which the beam plate electrode 14 is received. A wall member 106 surrounds the posts 104 and provides a pocket 108 for receiving the anode 15.

The jig 25 is designed to handle the triode control grid 8. This jig is of a design quite similar to the jig 23 except that it is provided with a pocket 11 0 shaped to receive the triode grid 8. This jig also includes a frictionally controlled slidable post 92.

The jig 27 is designed to handle the triode anode 9. This jig includes horizontal and vertical surfaces 112 and 114 which are recessed to provide a pocket 116 for receiving the anode 9. This jig also includes a slidable post 103 similar to that of jig 24.

The jig 28 is adapted to handle the bottom mica spacer 3 and includes a pair of short posts 118 for receiving the mica spacer.

The Jig Stops Referring again to FIGS. 2 and 3, a plurality of stop means, 120, 122, and 124, selectively actuatable into and out-of the closed loop circular path of the jigs are provided to selectively obstruct the movement of and thereby stop the jigs at predetermined locations along their path. The stop means 120, 122, and 124 are located, respectively, at the loading and assembly stations 32 and 34 and at a release station 126 spaced around the periphery of the turret. The release station is located on the opposite side of the turret 20 from the loading and assembly stations. Each of the stop means 120, 122, and 124 is secured to the base plate 40 by a flange plate 128. Each of the stop means further comprises a housing 130 (FIG. 3) having a slot 132 therein in which a stop bar 134 is slidably disposed. Each of the stop bars 134 is shaped at its upper end to provide L-shaped portions 136 to receive the corners of the jigs. A plate 138 is secured to the housing 130 to enclose the stop bar 134 and is provided with a slot 140 (FIG. 2) at its lower extremity through which a pin 152 attached to the stop bar 134 extends. A tension spring 144 is fixed between the pin 142 and a second pin 146 secured to the plate 138 to urge the stop bar 134 upwardly and into the path of the jigs 21-48 whereby movement of the jigs by the turret 20 can be stopped. When one of the jigs, e.g., jig 24, engages one of the stops, e.g., stop 120, the jig then slides relative to the turret 20 as the turret continues to rotate. However, the magnetic attraction of the jig to the turret continues to keep the jig on the turret. All other of the jigs, viz, jigs 25 and 26, between the stopped jig 24 and the preceding stop 124 are carried along their path by the turret 20 until they are stopped by contact with an already stopped jig preceding them in their path. All jigs between any two stops thus tend to congregate.

Each of the stop means 120, 122, and 124 is further provided with an actuating means in the form of an air cylinder 148 attached to its housing 130 (see for example FIG. 2) and having a plunger 150 actuatable downwardly. The side of the housing 130 to which the air cylinder 148 is attached is provided with an opening. An arm 152 attached to the stop bar 134 projects out of the housing 130 through the opening and into engagement with the plunger 156 of the air cylinder 148. Thus, energization of the air cylinder 148 results in a downward movement of the plunger 150 and in turn a downward movement of the arm 152 and the stop bar 134. The stop bar 134 is, accordingly, movable out of the path of the jigs to thus permit continued movement of the jigs in their prescribed circular path. Adjustable stop bolts 154 are secured to the base plate 49 directly beneath the arms 152 to limit the downward movement of the stop bars 134.

A ring-like guard member 156 (FIG. 3) radially spaced from the turret 211 is provided circumferentially around the major portion thereof. The ring 156 is supported on legs 158 secured to the base plate 40. The ring serves to protect an operator from the moving turret and jigs and acts to prevent a jig from being knocked off the turret if accidentally struck.

Transfer Mechanism and Loading Means A transfer mechanism for removing the jigs 2123 from the turret 29 and carrying them upward to the assembly fixture 36 to load the fixture as with the various cage parts includes a movable transfer yoke 169 having a jig receiving recess 162 therein. The yoke 1611 is connected to a piston to: of a transfer air cylinder 1%. The air cylinder 166 is received within an opening in a mounting block 168 fixed to the base plate 49.

The transfer means including the yoke 16%) is positioned adjacent the stop means 122 at the assembly station 34- so as to receive Within the recess 162, a jig which has been stopped at the assembly station. With one of the jigs so stopped, energization of the transfer cylinder 166 results in an upward movement of the yoke 16%), thus moving the jig upward toward the assembly fixture 36. De-energization of the transfer cylinder 166 results in a return downwardly of the yoke 1653 and a retraction of the jig downwardly and back into engagement with the turret 29.

Also, supported within the block 163 is a second air cylinder 179 including a plunger 172 which is disposed underneath a jig when the jig is located at the assembly station 34. The plunger 172 is actuatable upwardly to engage the posts 92 or 1113 slidable in either the jig 23, 24, 26, or 27 as hereinbefore described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. I

When the jig 23 is located at the assembly station 34, actuation of the plunger 172 results in the jig post 92 being projected upwardly through the interior of a grid 12 located in the jig pocket 90. Thus, when the jig 23 is raised by the transfer yoke 16%, the pointed end of the post 92 enters and centers the cathode 11 which has already been deposited at the assembly fixture 36. Thus, the grid 12 carried by the jig 23 can be telescoped over the cathode 11 without damage to the lateral wires of the grid. Although the pointed end 94 of the post 92 can enter and center the cathode 11, the post itself is too large to be received within the cathode 11. Thus, engagement of the post 92 with the cathode 11 results in the post being pushed back downwardly into the jig 23 to ready it for upward actuation by the plunger 172 during the next use of the jig 23.

The plunger 172 similarly actuates the post 92 of the jig 26.

In a similar manner, the posts 1113 of jigs 24 and 27 engage grids which have already been deposited at the assembly fixture 36 for the purpose of telescopically guiding a grid 13 or anode 9 over the already-deposited grid. The posts 103 include spaced cavities on their upper end surfaces into which the side rods of a previously deposited grid is received for the purpose of positioning the grid.

Referring to FIG. 2, the assembly fixture 36, previously referred to and hereinafter described in greater detail with reference to FIGS. 9-l1, is mounted above the turret 21) by a support arm 174 mounted on the shaft 44. The support arm 174 extends radially outward over the turret 21 to adjacent the rim 54 thereof. A washer type bearing 176 is disposed about the shaft 44 between the turret 2t and the support arm 174.

As shown in FIGS. 9-11, the assembly fixture as comprises a plate-like member having a pair of apertures therein for receiving a pair of screws (not shown) for securing the fixture 36 to the bottom of a support plate 176. The support plate 176 is mounted at the end of the support arm 174 on the top of a bifurcated vertically extending flange 1'77 thereof. A centrally located circular recess 178 for receiving a mica spacer plate 3 is provided in the underneath surface of the fixture 36. The recess 178 is provided with a funnel-like entrance surface 180 and a reverse'tapered spacer receiving section 182. Thus, a mica spacer 3 can be carried upwardly .by the jig 21 and snapped into the reverse tapered section 132 where it will be frictionally maintained in the assembly fixture as. At this point it should be noted that in actual operation of-the apparatus, the fixture 36 is oriented upside down from its orientation in FIG. 10, i.e., the recess 178 faces downwardly.

1n the process of assembling a cage 2, after the upper mica plate 3 is thus snapped into position, the electrodes of the cage are successively inserted upwardly into the apertures of the upper mica where they are frictionally and dependingly supported. The bottom mica plate is lastly disposed over the ends of the depending electrodes to complete the cage 2.

A pair of apertures 15% are provided completely through the fixture plate 36 for the purpose of ejecting an assembled cage held by the fixture 36 by insertion of a pair of plunger rods therethrough from a cage ejector mechanism (not shown) mounted on top of the assembly fixture 36.

The floor 136 of the recess 178 is provided with a plurality of cavities, including cavities 188, 199, and 192, for receiving the ends of the electrodes of the cage 2 during its fabrication on the fixture Ear Bending Means in accordance with another feature of this invention, the cavities 13$ for receiving the cars 14 of the beam plate electrode 14, the cavities 191) for receiving the ears 15 of the pentode anode 15, and the cavities 192 for receiving the ears 9 of the triode anode 9 are provided with means for automatically bending these electrode ears over and against the surface of the mica spacer 3 when the elec-' trodes are deposited on the fixture 36. Such ear-bending means, as hereinafter detailed, is also provided in the ear receiving cavities of the bottom mica jig 28. The ear benders in the assembly fixture 36 and those in the bottom mica jig 28 function in exactly the same way except that those of the fixture 36 operate on the electrode ears extending through the top mica spacer while those of the jig 28 operate on the electrode ears extending through the bottom mica spacer.

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate the ear-bending means associated with the anode ear receiving cavity 190. The ear bender of this cavity is representative of each of the ear benders of the assembly fixture 36 and of the bottom mica jig 28. The ear bender comprises a tapered floor 194 of the cavity with which it is associated. The tapered floor 194 is preferably a cylindrically curved surface but may alternatively comprise a fiat taper (not shown).

The cavity 190, together with its ear-bending surface 194, may be provided as a bore 196 completely through the plate of the assembly fixture 36 into which a plug 198 having a shaped end surface is snugly fitted. The shaped end surface of the plug 198 constitutes the, ear bending surface 194.

In accordance with the operation of this feature of the invention, as an electrode is moved into place relative to the assembly fixture 36, its ears pass through a mica spacer 3 contained in the recess 178 thereof and thence into its associated cavities 188, 190, or 192. As the end of the ear contacts the ear bending surface 194 and the electrode is advanced further, the ear is automatically bent and slides down the taperedear-bending surface 194 so that it is pressed back toward and upon the mica spacer 3 through which it was extended.

7 Guide Means In order to guide each jig 2128 as it is moved by the transfer yoke 160 toward the assembly fixture 36, a guide means 200 is provided at the outer end of the support arm 174. The guide means 200 shown in detail in FIGS. 9-11 is mounted on the bifurcated flange 177 of the support arm 174. The guide means includes tracks provided by track members 206 and 208, one secured to each branch of the bifurcated flange 177. The track members are spaced apart and define recesses 210 for receiving the contact bars 76 of the jigs 21--28.

In order to accurately position each jig relative to the assembly fixture 36 during the transfer action, spring members are provided in the track members 206 and 208 to urge a jig disposed in the guide means 200 toward a corner 212 of the guide means.

The left track member 206 comprises a movable block 214 having a plurality, e.g., three, recesses 216 therein which contain compression coil springs 218. The movable block 214 is slidably fastened to a support block 220 by a plurality of screws 222 which extend through slots 224 in the movable block 214. The springs 218 are backed up by a plate 226 also fixed to the support block 220 so that the springs 218 urge the movable block 214 to the right thus in turn urging a jig disposed in the guide means 200 toward the right as viewed in FIG. 9.

The right track member 208 includes a movable bar 228 which is mounted on a support member 233 by a pair of screws 232. The screws 232 are threaded into support member 230 and the movable bar 228 is slidable thereon. A leaf spring 234 disposed between the movable bar 228 and the support member 230 urges the movable bar away from the support member, thus in turn urging a jig disposed in the guide means 200 toward the flange 177. The movable block 214, together with the movable bar 228, thus urge the jig in the guide means toward the corner 212.

Gathering Tool Apparatus As shown in FIG. 2, a gathering tool apparatus is mounted between the upper and lower extremities of the guide means 200. The structure of the gathering tool apparatus 236 and its operation is discussed in greater detail with reference to FIGS. 12-14. A frame plate 238 of the gathering apparatus 236 is mounted on a pair of vertically extending posts 240 which are secured to the outer edges of the two branches of the bifurcated flange 177. The frame plate 238 is provided with a central opening 242 through which the guide means 200 extends (not shown in FIGS. 12 and 13). A cam ring 244 having an inwardly extending ledge 246 at the inner periphery thereof is slidably disposed on the frame plate 238 and is rotatable thereabout.

Three bar-like tool slides 248 are slidably disposed in three slide housings 250 fixed to the frame plate 238. One of three gathering tools 252, 254, and 256 is attached to each of the tool slides. A plurality of cam members 258 are adjustably fixed such as by screws to the cam ring 244 and include cam surfaces 260 co-operatively associated with the outside ends of the tool slides 248.

Rotation of the cam ring 244 results in the cam surfaces 260 forcing the tool slides 248 and the gathering tools 252, 254, 256 carried thereby inwardly into co-operative positioning relationship with the depending ends of the electrodes of an electrode cage, which electrodes are supported from the upper mica plate in the assembly fixture 36 and disposed in the central opening 242. This positioning operation is hereinafter detailed with reference to FIG. 14. Upon rotational retraction of the cam ring 244 in a clockwise direction, the gathering tools 252, 254, and 256 are returned to their original positions by coil tension springs 262 co-operatively associated therewith. The springs 262 are secured between pairs of posts 264, one of which is secured to the underneath side of fit 8 tool slides 248 and the other which is secured in the frame plate 238.

A handle 266 fixed to and extending from the cam plate 244 is provided for conveniently rotating the cam ring 244. Stops 268 and 270 are fixed to the frame plate 238 and engage a member 272 fixed to the cam ring 244 for limiting the movement of the cam ring.

FIG. 14 illustrates in greatly enlarged detail the cooperative relationship of the gathering tools 252, 254, and 256 with the end portions of the electrodes of the cage 2. In FIG. 14 the side rods of grids 8, 12, and 13 are indicated, respectively, by the numerals 8, 12', and 13. Similarly, the ears of the beam plate electrode 14 and the anodes 9 and 15 are indicated, respectively, by numerals 14', 9', and 15'.

As shown in FIG. 14, the gathering tools 252 and 256 are recessed, respectively, at 274 and 276 to clear the anode ears 15'. These tools are further shaped at their end portions to close upon and properly position the end portions of the electrodes of the pentode cage 6. Gathering tools 252 and 256 also back up and co-operate with gathering tool 254 for gathering and positioning the end portions of the electrodes of the triode cage 4.

Depending upon the particular cage type being fabricated and the nature of the receipt of cage parts on the jigs, it may be desirable to position the axis of the turret 20 at a slight angle with the vertical, such as by raising the right edge of the base plate 40 as viewed in FIG. 2. For example, since jigs 23-27 inclusive involve pockets for receiving cage parts, wherein the pockets are adjacent a vertical back wall, such a tilting of the apparatus including the jigs serves to better insure retention of the cage parts in the pockets during their transfer from the loading station 32 to the assembly fixture 36. A tilt of about 10 has been found to be suitable.

I claim:

1. Transport apparatus comprising a part receiving jig, and a continuously rotatable turret including means for producing a magnetic field adjacent the periphery thereof for releasably and slidably securing said jig to said turret adjacent said periphery.

2. In apparatus for fabricating an assembly of parts, the combination of a plurality of part receiving jigs, a continuously rotatable turret, permanent magnet means fixed to said turret adjacent the periphery thereof for releasably and slidably securing said jigs to said turrent adjacent said periphery.

3. In apparatus for transporting a work piece, the combination comprising a jig for receiving said work piece, continuously movable carrier means for transporting said jig along a path, means releasably and slidably attaching said jig to said carrier means, and stop means selectively actuatable into said path to obstruct the movement of said jig along said path and cause it to slide relative to said carrier means.

4. Apparatus for fabricating an assembly of parts comprising a plurality of jigs, each adapted to receive a difiercut one of said parts, carrier means for transporting said jigs along a path, means releasably attaching said jigs to said carrier means, drive means for said carrier means to move said jigs along said path, means selectively actuatable to successively stop said jigs first at a loading station and then at an assembly station, an assembly fixture and a transfer means at said assembly station, said transfer means being adapted to remove said jigs from said carrier means and transfer them together with any of said assembly parts carried thereby to said assembly fixture to there deposit said assembly parts.

5. Apparatus for fabricating a unitary electrode cage assembly including a plurality of electrodes mounted in the apertures of and between a pair of spaced parallel insulator plates each having an array of apertures therein; said apparatus comprising support means for supporting one of said insulator plates in a received position in a substantially horizontal plane with the lower face thereof substantially unobstructed, means for supporting said one insulator plate in a predetermined orientation and raising it to deposit it in said received position, means for supporting said electrodes in predetermined orientations and then raising them to insert their upper ends into the apertures of said one insulator plate into frictional engagement therewith to dependingly support said electrodes from said one insulator plate, means for gathering and positioning the depending ends of said electrodes into an array identical with the array of apertures in said insulator plates, and means for supporting the other of said insulator plates in predetermined orientation and raising it into engagement with said depending electrode ends to insert said depending ends into the apertures of said other insulator plate.

6. Apparatus for fabricating a unitary electrode cage assembly including a plurality of electrodes mounted be tween a pair of spaced parallel insulator plates; said apparatus comprising a turret continuously rotatable about an axis, said turret including a peripheral cylindrical surface, a ledge extending radially from the lower edge of said surface, and permanent magnet means adjacent said surface, a plurality of jigs disposed on said ledge and secured to said surface in releasable and slidable relationship therewith by said magnetic means, each of said jigs being adapted to receive a different part of said electrode cage, a plurality of stop means disposed at mutually spaced locations adjacent said path and selectively movable into and out of said path to obstruct and thereby stop the circular movement of said jigs and cause them to circumferentially slide relative to said surface, one of said stop means positioned to stop said jigs at a cage assembly station, an assembly fixture positioned at said assembly station and spaced above said turret, said fixture including means for receiving and supporting one of said insulator plates in a plane perpendicular to said axis with the'lower face thereof substantially exposed; guide means at said assembly station for guiding said jigs from said turret to said fixture; transfer means at said assembly station for transferring a jig from said turret to said fixture; and an electrode positioning apparatus disposed adjacent said fixture for positioning electrodes which have been deposited in frictional engagement with one of said insulator plates supported by said fixture.

7. Apparatus for fabricating a unitary electrode cage assembly including a plurality of electrodes mounted between a pair of spaced parallel insulator plates; said apparatus comprising a turret rotatable about a substantially vertical axis, said turret including a rim portion having a peripheral cylindrical surface, a ledge extending radially outward from the lower edge of said surface, and a plurality of permanent magnets circumferentially spaced around and embedded in said rim adjacent to said surface; a pluralitty of jigs disposed on said ledge and magnetically secured to said surface in releasable and slidable relationship therewith by said magnets, each of said jigs being adapted to receive a part of said electrode cage on the upper surface thereof; drive means for continuously rotating said turret about said axis to move said jigs in a circular path concentric with said axis; a plurality of stop means disposed at mutually spaced locations adjacent said path and selectively movable into and out of said path to obstruct and thereby stop the circular movement of said jigs and cause' them to circumferentially slide relative to said surface, one of said stop means positioned to stop said jigs at a cage assembly station, another of said stop means positioned to stop said jigs at a cage part loading station circumferentially adjacent to said assembly station on the side thereof from which the jigs approach said assembly station as they are moved along said path by said turret, and still another of said stop means positioned at a release station spaced a substantial distance from said assembly and loading stations around the periphery of said turret; stop actuation means for substantially simultaneously actuating all of said stop means into and out of said path; an assembly fixture positioned at said assembly station and spaced above said turret, said fixture including means for receiving one of said insulator plates in frictional engagement so as to support said one plate in a plane perpendicular to said axis with the lower face thereof substantially exposed and engageaole by electrodes carried by said jigs when said jigs are removed from said turret at said assembly station along a path parallel to said axis; guide means at said assembly station including a pair of tracks for guiding said jigs from said turret to said fixture; transfer means at said assembly station for engaging and lifting a jig located thereat from said turret and moving it along said tracks of said guide means toward said fixture to transfer a cage part carried by said jig to said fixture; and an electrode gathering and positioning apparatus disposed adjacent and below said fixture and actuatable to engage dependingends of electrodes which have been deposited in frictional engagement with one of said insulator plates which has been deposited in frictional engagement with said fixture, whereby said depending ends are positioned to receive the other of said insulator plates.

8. In apparatus for fabricating a unitary electrode cage assembly which includes an electrode having an ear extending through an aperture of an insulator plate and bent over against a face thereof; an assembly fixture including means for receiving and supporting said insulator plate in predetermined orientation, said fixture having a cavity therein opposite said aperture when said insulator plate is supported by said fixture, said cavity having a tapered internal surface engagable by said ear whereby said ear is bent over and against a surface of said insulator plate when said insulator plate'is supported in said fixture and said ear is inserted through said aperture thereof.

9. Apparatus for fabricating a unitary electrode cage assembly including a plurality of electrodes mounted between a pair of spaced parallel insulator plates; said apparatus comprising a continuously rotatable turret including magnetic means adjacent the periphery thereof, a plurality of electrode carrying jigs and releasably and slidably secured to said turret by magnetic means, an assembly fixture adjacent to said turret, said fixture including means for receiving and supporting one of said insulator plates, said fixture having a plurality of cavities therein for receiving ears of electrodes transferred thereto, said cavities having tapered internal surfaces engageable by said ears, and transfer means for moving said jigs singly from said turret toward said fixture to transfer a cage I part carried by said jig to said fixture.

10. Apparatus for assembling an electrode cage which comprises first and second spaced parallel insulator plates and a plurality of electrodes mounted therebetween, at least one of said electrodes having ear members on each end thereof which extend through apertures in said insulator plates and which are bent over to secure said plates to said one electrode, said apparatus comprising a first insulator support means for supporting said first apertured insulator plate with one face thereof sufficiently unobstructed to receive said electrodes in the apertures thereof, a second insulator support means for supporting said second apertured insulator plate with one face thereof facing said one face of said first insulator plate and sufficiently unobstructed to receive said electrodes in the apertures thereof, both said insulator support means having cavities therein for receiving the ends of said elec trodes opposite said insulator plate apertures when said plates are supported by said support means, electrode loading means for inserting the one end of said electrodes into the apertures of said first insulator plate and into said cavities, and means for moving said first and second insulator support means toward each other to insert the other ends of said electrodes into the apertures of said second insulator plate and into said cavities, said first and second insulator support means each including ear bend- 1 1 ing means disposed within the ones of said cavities into which the ears of said one electrode are received for deflecting and thereby bending said ears toward said insulator plates when the ears of said one electrode are mserted into said cavities.

11. Apparatus according to claim and wherein said ear bending means comprises the floors of said ones of said cavities disposed at an angle relative to the insulator plate supported by said insulator support means. I

12. Apparatus according to claim 11 and wherein said floors are cylindrically curved surfaces.

13. Apparatus for fabricating a unitary electrode cage assembly including a plurality of electrodes mounted between a pair of spaced parallel insulator plates; said apparatus comprising a turret continuously rotatable about an axis, a plurality of jigs carried by said turret adjacent the periphery thereof along a circular path, said turret including magnetic means adjacent said periphery releasably and slidably securing said jigs to said turret, one of said jigs having a frictionally retained post slidably disposed therein, stop means disposed at to adjacent said path at an assembly station and selectively movable into and out of said path to obstruct and thereby stop the circular movement of said jigs and cause them to circumferentially slide relative to said turret, plunger means disposed at said assembly station and actuable to engage said frictionally retained post of said jig and slidably move it relative to said jig, an assembly fixture positioned at said assembly station and spaced from said turret, and transfer means at said assembly station for transferring said jig located thereat from said turret to said fixture.

14. Apparatus for assembling a unitary electrode cage assembly including a plurality of electrodes mounted between a pair of spaced parallel insulating spacer plates, said apparatus including a cage part carrier, a plurality of interchangeable parts carrying jigs releasably mounted on said carrier for movement from a loading station to an assembly station, fixture means above said carrier at said loading station for frictionally receiving an insulating spacer, a transfer mechanism at said loading station for removing jigs in succession from said carrier and moving said jigs to said fixture for depositing a first insulating spacer plate therein and in succession, transferring the electrode parts and a second insulating spacer plate to be held together by frictional engagement, whereby upon movement of several successive jigs from said carrier to said fixture all of the electrode parts and said second spacer plate are assembled with said first plate to form a unitary electrode cage assembly.

15. Apparatus for assembling a unitary electrode cage assembly including a plurality of electrodes mounted between a pair of spaced parallel insulating spacer plates, said apparatus including a cage part carrier, a plurality of interchangeable parts carrying jigs releasably mounted on said carrier for movement from a loading station to an assembly station, fixture means above said carrier at said loading station for receiving an insulating spacer, a transfer mechanism at said loading station for removing jigs in succession from said carrier and moving said jigs to said fixture for depositing a first insulating spacer plate therein and in succession, transferring the electrode parts and a second insulating spacer plate to be held together by frictional engagement, whereby upon movement of several successive jigs from said carrier to said fixture all of the electrode parts and said second spacer plate are assembled with said first plate to form a unitary electrode cage assembly, and means on said fixture and on said last-mentioned jig for deforming the ends of at least some of said electrode parts for locking said cage assembly together.

16. Apparatus for assembling a unitary electrode cage assembly including a plurality of electrode parts mounted between a pair of spaced parallel insulating spacer plates, said apparatus including a cage part carrier, a plurality of interchangeable parts holding jigs releasably mounted on said carrier for movement from a loading station to an assembly station, fixture means above said carrier at said assembly station for frictionally receiving an insulating spacer plate, a transfer mechanism at said loading station for removing a spacer plate carrying jig from said carrier and transferring said jig to said fixture for depositing an insulating spacer plate in said fixture, means for causing retraction of said transfer mechanism and said last-named jig to return said last-named jig to said carrier and for causing movement of successive jigs each carrying a tube part to said loading position, said transfer mechanism transferring in succession said jigs with a tube part to said fixture for inserting an end portion of a tube part into said insulating spacer plate, and means for positioning the lower ends of said electrode parts in fixed spaced relationship, the last of said jigs carrying an insulating spacer plate whereby upon transfer of the last jig from said carrier to the lower ends of said electrode parts, said lower ends of said electrode parts will be frictionally engaged with said last insulating spacer plate.

17. Apparatus for assembling a unitary electrode cage assembly including a plurality of electrode parts mounted between a pair of spaced parallel insulating spacer plates, said apparatus including a cage part carrier, a plurality of interchangeable parts holding jigs releasably mounted on said carrier for movement from a loading station to an assembly station, fixture means above said carrier at said assembly station for frictionally receiving an insulating spacer plate, a transfer mechanism at said loading station for removing a spacer plate carrying jig from said carrier and transferring said jig to said fixture for depositing an insulating spacer plate in said fixture, means for causing retraction of said transfer mechanism and said last-named jig to return said last-named jig to said carrier and for causing movement of successive jigs each carrying a tube part to said loading position, said transfer mechanism transferring in succession said jigs with a tube part to said fixture for inserting an end portion of a tube part into said insulating spacer plate, means for positioning the lower ends of said electrode parts in fixed spaced relationship, the last of said jigs carrying an insulating spacer plate whereby upon transfer of the last jig from said carrier to the lower ends of said electrode parts said lower ends of said electrode parts will be frictionally engaged with said last insulating spacer plate, and means on said fixture and on said last mentioned jig for deforming the ends of at least some of said electrode parts for locking the electrode cage assembly together.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,071,859 Steiner Feb. 23, 1937 2,425,127 Schafer Aug. 5, 1947 2,825,368 Kuba Mar. 4, 1958 2,884,684 Wolke et al. May 5, 1959 2,936,797 Mullan et a1 May 17, 1960 2,985,947 Aird et al May 30, 1961 3,013,326 Flodberg Dec. 19, 1961 3,104,008 Coffey Sept. 17, 1963 3,105,330 Grage Oct. 1, 1963 

7. APPARATUS FOR FABRICATING A UNITARY ELECTRODE CAGE ASSEMBLY INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF ELECTRODES MOUNTED BETWEEN A PAIR OF SPACED PARALLEL INSULATOR PLATES; SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING A TURRET ROTATABLE ABOUT A SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL AXIS, SAID TURRET INCLUDING A RIM PORTION HAVING A PERIPHERAL CYLINDRICAL SURFACE, A LEDGE EXTENDING RADIALLY OUTWARD FROM THE LOWER EDGE OF SAID SURFACE, AND A PLURALITY OF PERMANENT MAGNETS CIRCUMFERENTIALLY SPACED AROUND AND EMBEDDED IN SAID RIM ADJACENT TO SAID SURFACE; A PLURALITY OF JIGS DISPOSED ON SAID LEDGE AND MAGNETICALLY SECURED TO SAID SURFACE IN RELEASABLE AND SLIDABLE RELATIONSHIP THEREWITH BY SAID MAGNETS, EACH OF SAID JIGS BEING ADAPTED TO RECEIVE A PART OF SAID ELECTRODE CAGE ON THE UPPER SURFACE THEREOF; DRIVE MEANS FOR CONTINUOUSLY ROTATING SAID TURRET ABOUT SAID AXIS TO MOVE SAID JIGS IN A CIRCULAR PATH CONCENTRIC WITH SAID AXIS; A PLURALITY OF STOP MEANS DISPOSED AT MUTUALLY SPACED LOCATIONS ADJACENT SAID PATH AND SELECTIVELY MOVABLE INTO AND OUT OF SAID PATH TO OBSTRUCT AND THEREBY STOP THE CIRCULAR MOVEMENT OF SAID JIGS AND CAUSE THEM TO CIRCUMFERENTIALLY SLIDE RELATIVE TO SAID SURFACE, ONE OF SAID STOP MEANS POSITIONED TO STOP SAID JIGS AT A CAGE ASSEMBLY STATION, ANOTHER OF SAID STOP MEANS POSITIONED TO STOP SAID JIGS AT A CAGE PART LOADING STATION CIRCUMFERENTIALLY ADJACENT TO SAID ASSEMBLY STATION ON THE SIDE THEREOF FROM WHICH THE JIGS APPROACH SAID ASSEMBLY STATION AS THEY ARE MOVED ALONG SAID PATH BY SAID TURRET, AND STILL ANOTHER OF SAID STOP MEANS POSITIONED AT A RELEASE STATION SPACED A SUBSTANTIAL DISTANCE FROM SAID ASSEMBLY AND LOADING STATIONS AROUND THE PERIPHERY OF SAID TURRET; STOP ACTUATION MEANS FOR SUBSTANTIALLY SIMULTANEOUSLY ACTUATING ALL OF SAID STOP MEANS INTO AND OUT OF SAID PATH; AN ASSEMBLY FIXTURE POSITIONED AT SAID ASSEMBLY STATION AND SPACED ABOVE SAID TURRET, SAID FIXTURE INCLUDING MEANS FOR RECEIVING ONE OF SAID INSULATOR PLATES IN FRICTIONAL ENGAGEMENT SO AS TO SUPPORT SAID ONE PLATE IN A PLANE PERPENDICULAR TO SAID AXIS WITH THE LOWER FACE THEREOF SUBSTANTIALLY EXPOSED AND ENGAGEABLE BY ELECTRODES CARRIED BY SAID JIGS WHEN SAID JIGS ARE REMOVED FROM SAID TURRET AT SAID ASSEMBLY STATION ALONG A PATH PARALLEL TO SAID AXIS; GUIDE MEANS AT SAID ASSEMBLY STATION INCLUDING A PAIR OF TRACKS FOR GUIDING SAID JIGS FROM SAID TURRET TO SAID FIXTURE; TRANSFER MEANS AT SAID ASSEMBLY STATION FOR ENGAGING AND LIFTING A JIG LOCATED THEREAT FROM SAID TURRET AND MOVING IT ALONG SAID TRACKS OF SAID GUIDE MEANS TOWARD SAID FIXTURE TO TRANSFER A CAGE PART CARRIED BY SAID JIG TO SAID FIXTURE; AND AN ELECTRODE GATHERING AND POSITIONING APPARATUS DISPOSED ADJACENT AND BELOW SAID FIXTURE AND ACTUATABLE TO ENGAGE DEPENDING ENDS OF ELECTRODES WHICH HAVE BEEN DEPOSITED IN FRICTIONAL ENGAGEMENT WITH ONE OF SAID INSULATOR PLATES WHICH HAS BEEN DEPOSITED IN FRICTIONAL ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID FIXTURE, WHEREBY SAID DEPENDING ENDS ARE POSITIONED TO RECEIVE THE OTHER OF SAID INSULATOR PLATES. 